The Burmese and Icelandic governments have agreed to establish diplomatic relations, according to Burma’s state media on Wednesday.

A 2011 view of Reykjavik showing the spire of Hallgrímskirkja,(PHOTO: Wikipedia)

“The Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Republic of Iceland, guided by the willingness to promote the friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation on the basis of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the norms of International Law, agreed to establish diplomatic relations at Ambassadorial level with effect from 19 December 2012,” said The New Light of Myanmar.

The report said that a joint communiqué was signed between the two nations at the United Nations in New York on December 19.

Burma now has diplomatic relations with 110 countries around the world. In 2012 alone, Naypyitaw established official relations with five other nations: Malawi, Bhutan, Luxembourg, Latvia and Estonia.

Burma now has embassies in 30 countries and two permanent missions in New York and Geneva, while 28 countries have embassies in Burma.